Suspension and driving device for centrifugal cream-separator bowls.



P. L. KIMBALL. SUSPENSION AND DRIVING DEVICE FOR CENTRIFUGAL CREAM SEPARATOR BOWLS. APPLICATIOWFILED FEB. 19- 1911.

Lgmfimo Patented July 10, 1917.

I J x TT TAT earner anion.

IE'ERLEY L. KIMBALL, OF BELLOWS FALLS, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR, T0 VERMONT FARM MACHINE COMPANY, OF BELLOWS FALLS, VERMONT, A CORPORATION OF VERMONT.

SUSPENSION AND DRIVING DEVICE FOR CENIRIFUGAL CREAlVf-SEIPARATOR BOWLS.

Application filed February 19, 1917'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERLEY L. KIMBALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bellows Falls, in the county of lVindham and State of Vermont, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Suspension and Driving Devices for Centrifugal Cream-Separator Bowls, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide means for suspending and driving the bowls of centrifugal separators, and more particu larly the bowls of centrifugal cream separators.

Such mechanism should be of simple and durable construction, fully protected against dirt and the corroding effect of milk and water or other fluid agents used in or about the mechanism, capable of compensating for Wear, and insuring the balancing of the bowl as it is speeded, in addition to facilitating the assembling and disconnection of the parts.

In meeting these and related conditions, I have provided a self-balancing and flexible suspension and driving means, in which the bowl is constructed with a spindle socket extending well up to its center of gravity, and the spindle has a cushioned bearing, the bowl socket and the bearing being so complementally tapered or shaped that they have a frictional engagement and are capable of yielding laterally and vertically so as to correct the movement of the bowl and insure the integrity and efliciency of the drive, as I will proceed now to explain and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designateth.

Figure 1 isa vertical section of a centrifugal cream separator bowl illustrating the present invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation, Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, the section being taken at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the bearing end of the spindle.

The separator bowl 1 and its contained skimmers may be of any usual or approved construction, such as indicated in Fig. 1. This bowl has a base 2 with an axially arranged socket member 3 extending well up into the bowl, substantially to or above its Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented m in, rain.

Serial N0. 149,523.

center of gravity, and. the interior of this socket member is tapered at its upper portion l while below this tapered portion it may be cylindrical. The spindle 5 has its upper end 6 reduced and provided with a recess 7 in which is supported a coiled spring 8 or other resilient cushioning device. Oh this reduced end is mounted a cap or bushing i), of bronze or other suitable metal, having its upper portion 10 tapered to conform to the taper of the socket member, and provided with a. recess 11 to receive the upper end of the spring 8, so that the cap or bushing supported on the spindle in a yielding manner by means of said spring. This cap or bushing is made cylindrical below its tapered upper portion so as to conform to the cylindrical. portion of the socket member 3. The cap or bushing is provided with transverse slots 12 to receive the ends of a pin 18 arranged transversely in the spindle, by which said cap or bushing is connected to the reduced end of the spindle and permitted to yield longitudinally. This cap or bushing has a loose fit on the reduced end of the spindle so as to permit of a limited lateral movement.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, the upper end of the cap or bushing engages the tapered portion of the socket member 3, and its cylindrical portion below its tapered upper portion engages the cylindrical portion of the said socket member, so that the bowl is frictionally connected with the spindle and the hearing has a limited longitudi nal and lateral play. Thus the bowl has a flexible connection with its suspending and driving device.

The spindle may be provided with any usual or approved liexible or yielding neck bearing 1% to hold the spindle in a central position within the separator frame, and still allow a lateral movement on the spindle while it is at speed.

It will be noted that by the device of this invention, the bowl is held in such a flexible manner that the self-balancing thereof auto matically takes place as the bowl goes to speed.

The cap or bushing completely houses the top end of the spindle. By the arrangement shown, the tapered portions are at the extreme top end of the cap and consequently the seat is considerably higher inside of the bowl thereby bringing both the seat and the driving point substantially to or above the center of gravity of the bowl.

This cap or bushing protects the joint between it and the spindle from injury by dirt, corrosion and rust that otherwise would be caused by water getting into and remaining in the joint. The cushioning device (spring 8) is housed in the central recesses in the cap and the top end of the spindle, and is also protected from milk and wash water and rusting. This spring enables the bowl to ride softly and yieldingly, and avoids the shock and vibration of a solid metal to metal seat.

The loose mounting of the cap or bushing on the top of the spindle permitsa given amount of lateral movement of the cap and the bowl and a slight rocking of the bowl from a true vertical position. The bowl therefore is permitted to seek its own center of gravity, and maintain it while at speed entirely independent of and in addition to all that is possible to obtain where the flexible upper bearing only is used. For example, whenever the internal parts of the bowl or skimming device become worn, bent.

or jammed and cause misplacement when being assembled, thus tending to throw the bowl out of balance, the device of this invention will rectify or take care of any such inequality. In other words, the suspension and driving device of this invention constitutes a self-balancing feature that automatically takes care of any inequalities, and causes the bowl to run smoothly, when otherwise it would vibrate badly, run rough, and require much more power to-drive it. ithout the device of this invention, the bowl would have to be sent to the manufacturer for repairs when it reaches such a stage, but with my invention in use this trouble and expense will be obviated or greatly delayed.

Variations in details of construction and arrangement a re permissible within the spirit and scope of the invention as herein explained and claimed.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A separator bowl, having an axial socket member extending substantially to its cen ter of gravity, a. suspension and driving device for said bowl frictionally engaging said socket member, a prime mover engaging said device loosely, and a spring interposed between said device and prime mover, said device thereby having a lateral and longitudinal yielding connection with its prime mover.

2. A separator bowl, having an axial socket member provided with an upper tapered portion, a spindle, and a cushioned cap or bushing applied to the end of the spindle and having its top tapered and fitted in said tapered socket member.

3. A separator bowl, having an axial socket member extending up into the bowl substantially to its center of gravity, and pro vided with a tapered-portion at its upper end, aryielding cap or bushing adapted to engage the socket member frictionally, and a spindle with which said cap or bushing is movably connected;

4. A separator bowl, having a socket member extending up into the bowl substantially to its center-of gravity, and provided with a tapered portion at its upper end, a yielding cap or bushing adapted toengage the socket member frictionally, and a spindie with which the cap or bushing is loosely connected to provide for longitudinal and lateral adjustment. I

5. A separator bowl, having a socket member provided with an interior taper at its upper end, the remainder of the interior being cylindrical, a bushing complementally shaped to frictionally engage the socket member, a spindle von which the bushing is mounted, and a resilient device interposed between the bushing and the spindle. V

6. A separator bowl, having a. socket member provided with an interior taper at its upper end, the. remainder of the interior being cylindrical, abushing complementally shaped to frictionally engage the socket member, a spindle havingv a reduced end on which the bushing is mounted, a resilient device interposed between the bushing and the spindle, and means to compel the bushing to turn with the spindle and permit it to yield.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of February, A. D.

PERLEY L. KIA [BALL Witnesses M. J. PIKE, J. S. LANGWILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

